An AIE and ESIPT active Schiff base as colorimetric probe of Fe3+ and turn-on fluorescent probe of Al3+: experimental and theoretical studies

In this present study, a simple cation chemoprobe 1 bearing naphthol O[sbnd]H and imine group was designed and synthesized, which was identified as an aggregation induced emission (AIE) active molecule with excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) features. In addition, 1 showed both colorimetric detection for Fe and turn-on fluorescence response for Al. The binding ratio of 1 to Fe and Al were determined both to be 1:1 via Job's plot and ESI-mass spectrometry analysis. The limit of detection (LOD) of probe 1 to Fe and Al were 0.10 and 0.43 μM, respectively. Moreover, probe 1 could be used to quantify Fe and Al in environmental water samples